The role of demographic variables in the relationship between coping self-efficacy, perceived social support and subject well-being in first-year students

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English: Students experience many difficulties and life challenges during the transition from high school to university. An indicator of positive adjustment during such a transition is subjective well-being. Individual and social resources contribute to individuals' subjective well-being. In addition, demographic variables, such as gender, contribute to differences experienced in this area. Coping self-efficacy, which previously was identified as playing a role in general well-being, can be considered an individual resource associated with well-being. However, no South African study currently confirms the role of coping self-efficacy in subjective well-being. Perceived social support is a social resource that has been associated positively with subjective well-being. However, relocating away from supportive social structures such as relatives and friends can affect perceived social support and has indeed been found to increase students’ adjustment difficulties. To date, research on the factors affecting the subjective well-being of South African students who relocate to new cities to further their studies has been lacking.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the role of gender and relocation in the relationship between coping self-efficacy, perceived social support, and subjective well-being among first-year students at the University of the Free State.
A quantitative, non-experimental, correlational design was used in this study. The measuring instruments included a biographical questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Affectometer 2 (short version), the Coping Self-efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The role of gender, relocation, coping self-efficacy, and perceived social support from family and friends was investigated by using a hierarchical regression analysis.
Results from the study indicate that only coping self-efficacy and perceived social support from family play a statistically significant role in subjective well-being. Gender and relocation do not play a statistically significant role in subjective well-being. These findings emphasise the importance of further research on subjective well-being in first-year students in the South African context.